Spirit-level.



C. C. FINN. SPIRIT LEVEL. APPLICATION FILED JUNE 19, 1911.

Patented May 28,1912.

To all whom it may concern:

UNITED STATES PATENT orFIoE.

CLARENCE C. FINN, ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF TO JAMES L. V HEATH, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

' SPIRIT-LEVEL.

1,027,533. specification of a ment- Patented May28, 1912.

-'Be it knownthat I, CLARENCEC. FINN, a

citizen of thejUnited States, residin at the city of StLollis, State of Missouri, ave invented a certainnew and'useful Improvement in Spirit-Levels, of which the following is ,aspecification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part hereofi'in which-f iF-igure liis a side elevational view of a jspirit-level embodying my invention; Fig. 2

isfa plan view of the same; and Fig. 3 is a verticalv sectional view on the line 33,

invention-relates to a certain new and useful improvement in spirit-levels, the object of my lnvention being toprovide an garticle. of the kind stated light, and more particularly to provide an Y article of the kind stated with an electric with an artificial lighting system, including an electric lamp or lamps, whereby such article, whileadapted to be used asan ordinary spirit-level in the day time or in light places when the bubble-tube or tubes maybe clearly discerned or observed, is equally well adaptedv "for use, and the bubble-tube or tubes-thereof equally-well discernible or observable, in the nlght time or in dark places or corners.

With, this object in? view, my invention resides in the novel construction of my new lighting-system and in the novel arrangement and-co1nbination of the same with a spirit1evel', all as will'hereinafter be described and afterward pointed out in the claims. 1

In the drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to like-parts throughout. the several views,1 indicates the body-portion .of the level, which may be, and preferably is, of any well-known or approved construction, being formed preferably in two parts secured together in any suitable manner,

preferably by means of transversely disposed through-bolts or other suitable securlug-devices 2 and metallioend-plates, 3, as shown particularly in Fig. 2. Said bodyportion 1 preferably at or near the center thereof is provided with a laterally-disposed opening extending therethrough, in which any suitable hubble-tube is adapted to be I arranged and mounted preferably horizon-' tally disposed relatively to the long straightleveling-edge, or the" horizontally-disposed straight-leveling-edge, as we will call it, 1*

Application filed June 9, 1911.

Serial N0.'634,060.

of said body-portion 1. I,'however,prefer 'Patent Oflice of even date herewith and se rially numbered 634,059, this said ringshaped member designated by the numeral 4 carrying a bubble-tube 5 and being adapted to be rotarily moved in saidopening to properly adjust the position of said bubbletube 5 and the bubble therein relatively to said long straight-leveling-edge 1 of bodyortion 1. As will clearly be seen from igs. 1 and 3, said bubble-tube'5 is not only clearly observable or discernible from the sides of said body-portion 1, but, 'as said ring 4, as in said companion application fully shownand described, is also provided in its upper portion with a circumferentially-disposed slot in alinement with the longitudinallydispo sed slot 1 of said bodyportion 1, is also clearly observable or discernible from the top surface of said bodyportion 1. As said bubble-tube 5 is adapted to be used particularly in connection with said long leveling edge 1 of body-portion 1 to ascertain particularly the horizontal correctness of surfaces and the like, and as it is also 'desirable that said body-portion l'be provided with a second bubble adapted to be used particularly in connection with the straight edge, or vertically-disposed straight leveling-edge, as we will call it, 1 of said body-portion 1 to ascertain particularly the vertical correctness of surfaces and thelike, or the horizontal correctness of surfaces and the like of small area, said body-portion 1 is also provided with a second laterally-disposed opening at any suitable point, preferably to one side of the center thereof, in which second opening any suitable'bubbletube is likewise adapted to be arranged and mounted preferably horizontally disposed relatively to said end leveling edge 1 of body-portion 1. fer to arrange and mount my improved adjustable bubble-tube carrying-member shown and fully described in said companion application, said. member being indicated by the numeral 6 and thebubble tube carried thereby by the numeral 7. This ring 6 is likewise provided in its upper portion with a 'longitudinally-disposed slot for purposes more fully hereinafter appearing.

I here, however, also pre ios ' breakage,

Formed in said body-portion 1 preferably immediately above and to one side-0t said central opening in which said adjustable ring at 1s mounted, as shown particularly in Figs. 1 and 3, is a recess or pocket 8, in

, erably does not extend laterally .entirely' through said body-portion 1, but is of such depth that said lamp or bulb 9, when arranged therein, will preferably be directly in alinement with said longitudinally-disposed slot in the upper portion of said ring 4, whereby the rays from said lamp, when lighted, will be radiated through said slot directly upon said bubble tube 5, and said lamp or bulb being to one side of said lon gitudinally-disposed.slot 1 in said bodyportion 1, a clear view of said bubble-tube 5 through said slot 1 may be had.. In order that said lamp 9 may normally be hidden from view and not exposed to breakage, and yet may be readily removed and replaced by a second lamp or bulb, whenever necessary, the opening of this pocket 8 is preferably closed in any suitable manner, as by means of a plate 8 slidably arranged, as shown, on said body-portion 1. Also formed in said body-portion 1 immediately adjacent said second opening in which said adjust-' able ring 6 is mounted and also adjacent the longit-udinally-disposed slot in said ring, is a second pocket 10, in which is adapted to be likewise removably arranged or positioned a similar incandescent electric lamp or bulb ll. -Th'is pocket 10, similar to pocket 8, preferably does not extend laterally entirely through said body-portion 1, but is of such depth that said lamp or bulb 11 will be positioned directly in front, as it might be said, of said longitudinally-disposed slot insaid ring 6, whereby the rays from said lamp or bulb, when lighted, will be radiated or thrown through said slot directly on said bubble-tube 7. Likewise in order that said lamp 01' bulb 11 may be nor-- mally hidden from view and not exposed to and yet may bereadily removed and replaced bya second lamp or bulb whenever necessary, this.pocket- 10 is also normally closed in any suitable manner, as

by means of a plate 10 slidably arranged,

as shown, on said body-portion 1. At ,one end thereof, see particularly Fig. 3, said body-portion '1 is also provided with a suitable preferably elongated pocket 12, in which is adapted to be arranged any suitable, prefcrably cylindrical, small electric dry battery 13 provided at its opposite ends witlrcontact points 14 and 15. Preferably seat-ed in said body-portion 1 at theinner end of said pocket 12 is a contact-pin 16, with which said contact-point 14 of battery 13 is adapted to removably make contact,

and leading from said contact-pin 16 to said lamp 9 is one wire 17 of the circuit between said battery 13 and said lamp 9. 18 indi- 'cates a suitablecontact-plate which is preferably, for purposes hereinafter appearing,

pivoted or hinged upon a pin 19 arranged in,

said body-portion 1 adjacent the outer end 'of said pocket 12, the free end of said plate being adapted to removably make contact- -with said contact-point 15 of battery 13.

12" indicates a small recess or pocket in said body-portion 1 ,which communicates with the outer port-ion of said pocket 12 and in with the mouth of said pocket 12, as shown clearly in Fig. 3. This plug 20 carries on its inner side a pin 22 provided at its end with suitable insulation 23 adapted to bear, when said plug 20 is fully seated, against said contact-plate 18, this plug 20 and its carried pin 22 being adapted, as shown clearly in Fig. 3, to hold said contact-plate 18 in removable engagement or contact with said contact-point 15 of battery 13 and also to hold said battery 13 removably in place in said pocket 12 with its contact-point 14 contacting with said contact-pin 16. 24 indi cates a'suitable push-button located at a suitable point on the side of body-portion 1 and preferablyadjacent said adjustable bubble-tube carrying-member 4, and 25-indieates a second push-button located on the side of said body-portion -1 preferably adjacent said adjustable bubble-tube carrying'-' member 6, these push-buttons being adapted, whenever desired, to be depressed to close the normally-open circuits between said lamps 9 and 11 and said battery 13. Connected to and leading from lamp 9 to push-button 2-1 is a wire '26, and connected to and leading from push-button 24 to said contact-plate 18 is a wire 27, the circuit'betherefrom to said push-button 25 isa wire 29, and connected at one end to said push button ZS-and leading therefrom and suitablyelec t-rieully connected at its other end to said wire 27, is a wire 28, thecircuit between said lamp-11 and said-battery 13, be-

ing thuscompleted on one side through button 25, wire 28, wire 27, and contactplate 18.

From the foregoing, it will clearly be seen that the said lighting-system, being substantially embedded within said body-portion 1, does not in any way interfere with or hinder the proper use of my new level as an ordinary spirit-level, and that my new level is not only adapted to be used as anordinary spirit-level in light places when the bubble-tubesb and 7 may be readily discerned without the aid of any artificial light,

but is also well adapted for use, and in this respect being a decided advance over all spirit-levels now on the market of which I am aware, in a dark place or corner or at night (and occasions for such use frequently happen) when it would ordinarily be diflicult, if not impossible, to discern the position of the bubble in said bubble-tube or tubes; on such occasions, however, it will be seen that, by depressing either one or both of said push-buttons to close the normally-open circuit between .saidlamp or lamps and said battery, said lamp or lamps will be lighted and the rays therefrom directed upon said bubbleetube or tubes, when the position.of the bubble in said tube or tubes. may be readily discerned or observed. It will be obvious that, in case either one or both of said lamps become burned out, damaged, or

' broken, the same may-be readily disconnected fromsaid wire connections and removed from operative positionin said body-portion 1, and a new lamp or lamps, in place thereof, be easily and quickly arranged in proper operative position in body-portion 1 and connected in circuit with said wire connections.

N ow, as will be seen particularly in Fig. 3, said battery 13 is removably arranged in operative position in said body-portion 1, and, as it might be said, loosely electrically engages or makes contact with said contactmembers 16 and 18, being held in said pocket 12 of body-portionl and incontact with said contact-men'ibers 16 and 18, as hereinliietore described, by means of said plu 20. Thus 't'urther, should it be required or desired to remove the battery 13 for the purpose of replacement or renewal or otherwise, it will be seen that this can easily be accomplished by merely unscrewing plug 20 from its socket 21. and turning the bmly-portion of thelevel on end or,

in an ul'night vertical position, with the pocket 12 at; the lower end, when battery 13 will drop by gravity out of said pocket, and in so doing said contact-plate 18 will-be swung thereby downwardly out of-the path of said battery and into said recess or pocket '12. A new battery may now be easily in sorted in said pocket 12, after which said body-portion 1 of the level is turned or moved so that contact-plate 18 will swing by gravity into contact with point 15 of said battery13, and said plug 20 again seated in its socket 21, when, as hereinbefore described, said new battery will. be held in operative position in body-portion 1 with said contact-plate 18 and contact-pin 16 in electrical engagement or contact with, respectively, said contact-points 15 and 14: thereof, the wiring of the circuit being, as will be clear, undisturbed during the removal or replacing of a battery.

The body-portion 1 of said level being preferably made in two parts, as hereinbefore stated, it is obvious that it is a comparatively easy matter when constructing my new level to arrange the various parts of the lighting-system therein, and it will further be seen that after the several parts of the level and the lighting system have been properly assembled-together and the level ready for use, there are no exposed c0nductors or parts to interfere with the free use and operation of my new level. It will also be seen that my invention is applicable to practically all forms of spirit-levels, provides a simple and comparatively inexpensive means whereby the bubble-tube or tubes 'can readily be observed at practically all times or in all places, and that minor changes in the arrangement, construction, and combmatlonof the several parts of my new level may be made and substituted for those herein shown and described without in principle of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patentis: v

, 1. A spirit-level comprising a body-portlon provided with a bubble-tube and a the least departing from the nature and pocket adjacentone end thereof, an electric lamp carried by said body-portion adjacent said bubble-tube, a fixed battery-contactmemb'er carried by said body-portion adjacent the inner end of said pocket, a pivotally-movable battery-contact-member car-- ried by said body-portion adjacent the outer end of said pocket, said contact-members being electrically connected in a normally open circuit with said lamp, an electric battery removably fitting in said. pocket, a plug threaded in said body-portion adapted to removably hold said pivoted contactmember in contact with said battery and also removably hold said battery in said pocket and in contact with said fixed eontactmember,.and means on said body-portion adapted. to ,close the circuit between said lamp and said contact-me!nbers; substantially as described. 1 2. A spirit-level comprising ,a body-portion provided with a bubble-tube and a pocketadjacen't; one end thereof, an electric lamp carried by said body-portion adjacent.

said bubble-tube, a fixed battery-contactmeniber carried by said body-portion adja cent the inner end of said pocket, a pivotally-inovable battery-contactmember carried by said body-portion adjacent'the outer end of said pocket, said contact-me1nbers "pocket and in contact with said fixed contact-member, said pivoted contact-1nember l, being adapted to be pivotally swung into or out of contact with said battery, and a pushbutton on said body-portion adapted to close the circuit between said lamp and said con- '..tact-n1einbers; substantially as described.

3. A spirit-level comprising a body-portion provided with a plurality of bubbletubes and with a. pocket adjacent one end thereof, a plurality of electric lamps carried by said body-portion adjacent said bubble-tubesa fixed battery-contact-member carried by said body-portion adjacent the inner end of said pocket, a pivotally-n10v able battery-contact-member carried by. said body-portion adjacent the Outer end of said pocket, said contact-members being electrically connected in a normally open circuit with each of said lamps, an electric battery relno'vably fitting in said pocket, a plug removably threaded in said body-portion and having an inwardly-extending pin adapted to removably hold said pivoted contactmember in contact with said battery and also hold said battery in said pocket and in contact with said fixed contact-member, said pivoted contact-member being adapted to be pivotally swung into or out of contact with said battery, and a separate pnsh-butt0n on said body portion for each of said lamps adapted to independently close the circuit between said contact-members and its re spective lamp; substantially as described.

In testimony whereof, Ihave signed my name to this specification, in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CLARENCE C. FINN. -Witnesses:

RUTH Pnrnnson, JAMES L, HE TH. 

